MP says Government has been ‘little use’ in helping Sutton family get justice for their dead daughter

Kev Rogers

An MP has slammed the government for what she says is its lack of interest in a Sutton’s family’s fight to get justice for their daughter who died in Italy.

Pat and Ray Martin are still waiting for answers four and a half years after the unexplained death of their daughter Claire.

Ashfield MP Gloria De Piero has again quizzed the Foreign Office on whether ministers will meet with them after receiving no answer to previous requests for a meeting.

The MP said: “Pat and Ray Martin have been through hell this past four-and-a-half years, first losing their beloved daughter in such a horrific manner and then finding the British government of little use in helping them find out why and how she died.

She added: “I cannot stop raising this until the family get the support that they deserve.”

Their daughter Claire died from stab wounds to the neck in March 2012 while she was living in southern Italy with her partner and baby boy.

Italian authorities passed a verdict of suicide but the Martins have never accepted that Claire would have killed herself in this way and are fighting to get the case re-examined.

Ms de Piero said: “I will continue to campaign and ask questions of the Foreign Office on their behalf until we get answers to some of the many questions they have.”

In April this year the MP wrote to the then Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister for Europe requesting a meeting to be held between the Foreign Office and the Martins and for documents from the investigation into Claire’s death to be translated into English. She says no meeting has yet been arranged and has vowed to continue to ask questions on their behalf.

Following Theresa May’s appointment as Prime Minister, Gloria wrote to Sir Alan, wrote the new Minister for Europe, Sir Alan Duncan,again requesting a meeting.

During Foreign Office questions in Parliament on Tuesday (October 18,) the MP asked Sit Alan if he would reply to her letter and agree to meet with Pat and Ray Martin. The Martins are also still awaiting a date for a meeting in Italy with the magistrate who presides over the area where Claire died.

Speaking in the House of Commons the MP asked: “Will the new ministerial team reply to my letter and agree to a meeting with the Martins?” In reply, Sir Alan said: “We have a dedicated consular team that often has to deal with issues of this sort. I will undertake to write to the hon. Lady.”